The full star lineup for MCR Fashion Festival has been revealed, with former Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley to host the glittering celebration of Manchester’s style scene.

MCR Fashion Festival will showcase some of the finest designers to come out of Manchester as well as the city’s rising stars at an event inspired by the jaw-dropping glamour of New York’s Met Gala ball at Manchester’s Midland Hotel on Saturday October 13.

The black tie event, being billed as the biggest fashion event outside of the capital, will showcase a number of collections straight off the London Fashion Week Catwalk. The festival’s ambassadors are designers Zeynep Kartal and Nathan Alexander of Boda Skins and Coronation Street star and fashion graduate Bhavna Limbachia.

The fashion extravaganza will all take place in front of over 300 guests with an evening of incredible catwalk shows, live entertainment from star performers Blue’s Simon Webbe and Coronation Street and musicals star Victoria Ekanoye, and a dinner dance.

Former Corrie star and red carpet style queen Catherine Tyldesley will be guest host on the night. She said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of Manchester Fashion Festival this year. Manchester boasts some fabulous designers and Mancunians have a great sense of style. In fact, some truly iconic statement trends have emanated from Manchester over the years. I’m excited to see what this year holds.”

Cath will be joined by a host of her former Corrie co-stars and a glittering VIP guest list including famous faces, local and national press, fashion stylists, buyers and social media influencers to walk the red carpet in extravagant gowns and sharp suits at what is set to be one of the most stylish events on the Autumn/Winter society calendar in the city centre.

MCR Fashion Festival is organised by Laura Stubbs and Lisa Forshaw, who are building on the successful launch of their event in February at Manchester Hall.

Their aim is to celebrate how the textile industry in Manchester has evolved from the cotton mills of the Industrial Revolution to producing global fashion designers like Matthew Williamson, Boda Skins, Private White VC, Native Youth, Vivienne Westwood and many more.

Laura and Lisa say: “We were inspired to organise the fashion festival as we wanted to provide a platform for the various successful fashion houses that have come out of Manchester to celebrate and showcase their brands and collections in their home city.

“Following the success of the launch of MCR Fashion Festival in February we have been able to make the event even bigger and better, it will therefore be a great platform for everyone involved. The event takes place shortly after London Fashion Week and will also allow upcoming and student designers a platform to showcase their work, in front of the right people in the industry, so that we can encourage and support growth within this industry. We have handpicked a number of graduates and invited them to showcase their work.”

Coronation Street star and fashion graduate Bhavna Limbachia is an ambassador for the event and says: “I felt it was really important for Manchester to have the exposure it deserves and needs for being one of the UK’s biggest fashion capitals. There’s so much history behind Manchester’s fashion industry, and so many amazing companies that have come out of Manchester, from the hugely successful e-commerce companies like PrettyLittleThing and MissGuided, to the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Bodaskins and Zeynep Kartal.

“I’m honoured to be a part of the second MCR Fashion Festival, it’s going to be bigger and better one not to be missed.

“And with a Met Gala theme we are looking forward to celebrating the idea of art being fashion.”

Guests will enjoy a drinks reception courtesy of sponsors Worsley Gin and Schweppes on arrival before heading into the Midland’s grand ballroom for the evening of fashion, dinner and entertainment to begin.

The team from Manchester beauty destination House of Evelyn are among sponsors, and will be exclusively creating the hair and make-up for the models in the catwalk shows.

We Love Manchester and Forever Manchester have been chosen as the charity partners for the event, to continue the theme of championing the city.